Get in first on India's fastest emerging market, says World Trade Centre

A scheme to engage Humber businesses with India’s largest untapped market is being launched.

 

World Trade Centre Hull & Humber, in partnership with Hull based Archomai, is promoting the fast emerging Tamil Nadu region of Southern India, which promises opportunities not available elsewhere in the country.

 

As part of this, a Humber delegation will leave in February for the region, arriving at its capital Chennai (formerly Madras). It will be the first in a series of visits to India’s most urbanised state.

 

Specialising in helping businesses take their products and services into new markets, Archomai has opened an office in Chennai, believing that Tamil Nadu, which has a population of 66 million, has huge unexploited potential.

 

Rob Bell, Archomai’s CEO and adviser to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Logistics Group, said it had a rapidly growing economy and was home to major international businesses in a number of sectors that complemented the Humber region’s commercial activities, including energy, chemicals, healthcare, ports and logistics, construction and food.

 

“There are plans to grow the capacity of the ports in the region to an incredible 14 million containers per year. Dubai Ports World already has a terminal in Chennai and the Port of Singapore Authority is opening one this year. Others will follow.

 

The coastal state, which boasts the highest level of enterprises in India, has strengths in a number of sectors. It is known as the Detroit of India for its major auto and auto components industry and increasingly known as a centre for SMEs in light manufacturing. Nissan, Ford, Hyundai, Saint Gobain and Samsung are well established and Dell is due to open a major plant.

 

“The better known regions of India, such as those around Mumbai and Delhi, are saturated. There is a long queue to make your mark in these places,” said Mr Bell.

 

“We are urging companies to act now to compete for the opportunities in Tamil Nadu before other global competitors steal a march.”

Mr Bell, who is a regular speaker at international logistics conferences in India, has built strong relationships with key senior people in the Tamil Nadu region.

 

Tony Howard, chair of World Trade Centre Hull & Humber, said: “There is great scope for a range of mutually beneficial trade links.

 

“In these fragile economic times, companies should seriously think about extending their business activities outside the UK. There is a strong case for considering the world’s emerging markets.

 

“Archomai has a great knowledge of Tamil Nadu, impressive contacts and the expertise required to help companies take the first steps. This visit is about forming long term and fruitful relationships with the region.”

 

World Trade Centre Hull & Humber will be investigating potential funding and specific market research through UK Trade & Investment. In early December, it will host a discussion session with Archomai’s India team and one of India’s leading industrial figures, Mr B Sridhar, who is a CII Logistics Group board member. It will also host a preparatory seminar before the delegation departs for India.